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Ground Adapters - not a cure all.

If you're using a center plate screw and a "ground adapter" it's probably because you don't have a three-prong receptacle and wish to use a device with a three prong cord end.

If this is so, you have a two-prong receptacle and probably also have two-wire branch circuit wiring to that receptacle.

If THAT is so, then you have no dedicated safety ground. All you have is a hot wire, a neutral wire, a non-self-grounding 2-pole receptacle, all tucked neatly inside a metal box that is nailed to a 2x4 and adjacent to a sheet of drywall.

So where is your path to ground in all of that?

Those who decree "No worries, the neutral is grounded!" are failing to understand we're not talking about a short from hot to neutral - as this would result in a ground fault that would almost certainly open the breaker with EITHER type of receptacle EVEN with the ground pin removed. (Ground is not involved with a L-N short.) But we're talking about a short from the hot to the CASE - NOT to neutral. Neutral is grounded AT THE PANEL... NOT AT THE CASE!

It's even worse if you're in your garage and there is a metal cover plate instead of a plastic one. If you get a short to the case, your trusty little "ground adapter" is simply going to energize the metal cover plate as well. Now, if you don't get electrocuted by your appliance, you might get electrocuted trying to unplug it!!

Nobody is mentioning the best solution for this: have an electrician run at least one modern 3-pole branch circuit to the vicinity of your gear to service your 3-pole appliances. Let's face it - where are you going to have more plugs in your home than behind your TV/AV rack or audio room?

People in these threads are balking at the cost of electrical work in their homes, but talk about spending $10K on speakers.

I just don't get it.

Cheers,
Presto

P.S. If you DO for some reason have a 2-pole plug on the end of a 3-pole branch circuit (aka Romex with ground wire) that's the easiest fix of all. Simply kill the breaker, remove the 2-pole plug, and install a 3-pole plug and connect H, N and G wires to their respective terminals.

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